Buffing wheel



' J- J. LAWLER BUFFING WHEEL Jul 8, 1952 Filed Feb. 8, 1950 J. J. LAWLER July 8, 1952 BUFFING WHEEL 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1950 Ell E172 51 Jolzzz JL J- J. LAWLER' BUFFING WHEEL July 8, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 8, 1950 IHVEHLUP Jofzzz J Lat/4691" Patented July 8, 1952 BUFFING WHEEL John J. Lawler, Chicago, 111., assignor to Ajax Bufl? Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation 2 Application February 8, i950, Serial No. 143,047

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to a buffing wheel and more particulary to a bufiing wheel in which a cloth bull is secured to a hub assembly adapted to be rotatably disposed on a shaft, the hub assembly carrying fluid directing means for circulating a coolant fluid in heat transfer relation with the buff as the wheel is rotated.

Conventional cloth bufling wheels comprise vention is to provide an improved buffing wheel having an annular cloth buff secured to a hub assembly provided with coolant circulating means generally an annular cloth buff secured to a hub assembly by means of which the buff may be rotatably disposed upon the spindle or shaft; In use, a plurality of such buffs are generally secured to a spindle or shaft in axial alignment with the peripheral surfaces of the bulls form ing a cylindrical buffing surface against which a work piece may be held. Due to friction between the work piece and the buff and internallyof the buff, considerable heat evolved during use of the bufiing assembly and this heat may become great enough to cause burning or charring of the buffs of the assembly.

The present invention now provides an improved bufling wheel in which the wheel hub carries means for directing air radially through the wheel. In addition, each wheel is provided with means spacing it from an adjacent wheel of the assembly so that radial fluid flow passages exist between the adjacentbuffs for the flow of coolant through the assembly.

In ordinary use in a bufiing assembly,, the coolant fluid is air and the vertical convection currents, resulting from the evolution of heat .at the peripheral working surface and Within the assembly itself, cause a draft of air vertically through 'the assembly, or more particularly through the air flow passages provided between adjacent-buffs by the hub spacing means. The air directing means carried by the hub also aid in the flow of currents through the assembly, thus increasing the heat dissipation efficiency thereof.

It has been found that the buff ventilating and cooling means of the present invention greatly extends the permissible range of rotational speeds without burning or charring of thebuff, and alsothat an unlimited number of buffing wheels may be positioned upon a spindle or shaft to form an efiicient, well ventilated assembly.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved bufling wheel having coolant circulating means and radial heat dissipating channels associated therewith for preventing burning or charring of the buffing elements.

Another important object of the present infor directing a coolant fluid through the buff.

, It is a further important object of the present invention to provide an improved bufling wheel assembly including a plurality of annular buffs each secured to a hub carrying coolant circulating means for directing coolant fluid radially outwardly through the buff and also providing radial flow passages communicating with the buff for receiving coolant fluid from the hub.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a buffing wheel of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, illustrating a buffing assembly composed of a plurality of bufling wheels similar to that of Figure l; a

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a hub element of the wheel of Figure 1 provided with coolant circulating means;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the plane IVIV of Figure 3; v

Figure 5 is an exploded sectional view illustrat ing the assembly of the buffing wheel of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of an assembled bumng wheel of the present invention;

Figure '7 is a side elevational view, similar to Figure 1, illustrating a modified form of a bufling wheel; I

Figure 8 is a sectional view, taken on the plane VIII-VIII of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of a modifled form of a clamping element employed in the wheel of Figure 7.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1, reference numeral l0 refers generally to a buffing wheel of the present invention including an annular cloth buff 'II and a hub assembly l2 secured to the buff I I The annular buff Il may be any of the numerous types of annular buifing cloth constructions known in the art. However, it is preferred that annular buffs formed of a plurality of elongated bias-cut strips be employed. Such buffs are generally prepared by transversely gathering or pleating a plurality of superimposed strips, sewing the'strips longitudinally down the center,

as at H a in Figures and 6, and then doubling the strip upon itself along the sewed line Ila. The double strip is then folded or pleated into an annular configuration having a smooth generally rounded inner periphery I lb, and the completed buff is preferably sewed, as at llc adjacent its inner periphery.

The hub assembly [2 includes a circular disk l3 and an annular-ring 14 secured to opposingsides of the buff 1 I adjacent the innerperiphery II b thereof. The disk I3 is generally circular in outline and is provided with a centrally located, integrally formed, cylindrical flange l5 defining an aperture IE concentric with the disk (Figures 3 and 4).

flange I5 is provided with a plurality of elongated, radially extending reinforcing ribs I1 symmetrically disposed about the flange 15. Air pumping means are provided, as will be hereinafter, described, by a plurality of air directing fins l8 defined by substantially semi-circular,- arcuate slits. l9 formed intermediate adjacent strengthening ribs IT, with that portion of the disk outlinedby the slits is being deformed from the plane of the disk in that direction inwhich the. flange l5 extends from the plane of the disk.

A plurality of peripherally spaced, radially extending teeth are formed integrally with the disks 12, the teeth having tapered outer portions 2| for a purpose. to be hereinafter described. The teeth 2 l, prior to assembly of'the buffing wheel llLare bent or deformed to lie in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the disk, as shown in Figure 5. g

The annular ring 14 is of slightly smaller outside diameter than the outside, diameter of the disk l3 and'is of approximately the same inside diameter as the annular buff ll. The ring [3 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 22, corresponding in location and approximate size to the teeth 2il,.whenthe latter are deformed as in Figure 5.

. Assembly of the wheel H3 is shown. in Figures 5 and 6 and includes as a first step the. positioning of the disk 13 and the ring M on the O posing sides of the annular buff ll. Next, the terminal portions '2! of the teeth 2i! are forced through the buff adiacentthe inner periphery H'b thereof to project outwardly beyond the'buff H and through. the apertures 22 of the ring 14. The terminal portions 2'! of the teeth '26 are then deformed radially inwardly of the ring It to overlie the exposed outer surface of the ring and to clinch the buff l I, thediski3 and the ring I l-into a rigid assembly.

It will be noted from Figures 2, 5 and 16-that the fluid directing fi'ns iii extend inwardly of the assembly to underlie the; inner periphery I Ib of the buff. in closely spaced relation thereto. In the modified form of wheel illustrated in Figures 7-9, inclusive, a circular-disk 35, similar to the disk 13 of Figure 1 and provided with peripheral teeth 25],- carries: elongated; generally oval air. directing fins 36; Thefins 36 are circumferentially spaced about the axial aperture it of the disk and extend radially acrossthe inner portions, of the disk 35. The fins are" deformed from. theplane'of. the disk to lie-at an angle thereto. so that efiectiveair direction may be-obtained. V

The modified-form of ring .31 is provided with oircumferentially spaced apertures; 38; corresponding tothe aperturesi22 of therings. I lv of the-embodiment of riguresl fi, inclusive. Those 1'5 That portion of the disk I3 surrounding the. w

portions 39 of the ring immediately contiguous to and radially inward from the apertures 38 are deformed from the plane of the ring to provide local embossments having plane upper surfaces for receiving the the teeth portions 2| thereagainst in extended surface engagement when the Wheel is assembled as in Figure 8.

It will be seen that, in the assembled wheel, thegembossments' 39 and the teeth portions 2| extend-beyond the plane of the ring 31 for a distance equal to the thickness of the tooth portion and the offset height of the embossment 39.. The radial air flow channels between the teeth and embossments are of the same height even after positioning of the wheel in an assembly as. in Figure 2.

As shown in Fi ure 2, a plurality of the wheels lib, assembled as hereinbefore described, are preferably secured to a rotatable shaft 24 to form a complete buffing assembly. The shaft 24 is provided with an enlarged, radially outwardly'extending shoulder 25 against which the mountingplate 25 is bottomed. The plate 26 is of approximately the same diameterv as the ring Hand is provided with a central embossment 28 having an inner bore 29 snugly'receiving the shaft 24. Next, a wheel I9 is positioned on the shaft 24 with the terminal end of the flange l5 being bottomed upon thecorresponding terminal end of the embossment 28 and the terminal portion 2| of the teeth 20 abutting the plate '25, adjacent its outer periphery. --Next the remaining wheels of the assembly are telescoped over the shaft 24, followed by a second clamping plate lit-snugly receiving the shaft 24'. The assembly is secured to the shaft 24 by means of a nut 32 threadedupon the exteriorly threaded terminal portion 330i the shaft 24.

It is tobe noted that the wheels it are spaced from one another by the abutment of the terminal ends 2.! of the teeth 29 against the disk $3 of the. adjacent wheel ill and that radial air passages are provided between adjacent wheels It by the spaces between the teeth 2:). in the second embodiment of the invention, as

illustratedin Figuresv 79, the depth of the radial passages is increased bythe provision of the offset portions 38 to increase correspondingly theradial flow of air. The radial passages accommodate the vertical fiow of convection currents through the wheel assembly, thus increasing the heat dissipation efficiency of the assembly. The fins 18 thrust air radially outwardly-through the radial air passages defined by the teeth' to exert a cooling effect upon the buffs ll, thereby obviating the possibility of the buffs becoming overheated and eventually charred or burned during employment of the assembly.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts ofthe present invention.

- If claim as my invention:

1. A bufing wheel comprising an annular cloth bufi, a circular disk abutting'one side surface of saidbuff, teeth formed integrally with saiddisk and extending through said buff, an annular ring abutting the opposing: side surface of said buff and having peripheral apertures formed therein to receivesaid teeth, said teeth beingdeformed .radially into extendedsurface engagement with said ring to secure said disk and ring to said buff, said teethextending axially beyondsaid ring to space said wheel from an adjacent wheel of a buffing assembly, and air directing vanes struck from said disk and extending generally perpendicularly with respect to the axis of rotation and at acute angles to the plane of rotation of said wheel to underlie said buff, said vanes serving to direct air radially outwardly through channels defined by said teeth spacing said wheel from an adjacent wheel into contact with said buff to cool the same and to prevent overheating thereof.

2. A buffing wheel comprising a cloth buff, a circular disk having peripherally spaced teeth formed integrally therewith extending through said bufi in a plane approximately normal to the plane of said disk, an annular ring for abutting an opposing surface of said buff and having apertures therein for receiving said teeth extending through said bufi, said ring having peripherally spaced protuberances extending axially of the ring away from said buff and said teeth being deformed radially of said ring to lie against the exposed surfaces of said protuberances to clamp said disk and said ring to said buff, said protuberances and said teeth lying thereagainst forming radial cooling air channels, and radially extending air directing vanes struck from said disk and extending axially inwardly therefrom to underlie said buff for directing air radially outwardly through said channels and past the buff to prevent overheating of the same.

3. A bufiing assembly comprising a plurality of buffing wheels, each of said wheels including an annular cloth buif, clamping elements abutting opposing side surfaces of said bufi adjacent the inner periphery thereof, means extending from one of said clamping members through said buff into extended surface engagement with the other of said clamping members to secure said members to said buff and. to space the associated buff from adjacent buffs of said assembly, additional spacing means formed integrally with one of said clamping elements and contacting said first mentioned means for increasing the spacing between adjacent buffs to form radial cooling air channels, and air directing vanes formed integrally with one of said clamping members and extending axially of said assembly at an acute angle thereto for directing air radially outwardly therefrom through said channels and between said buffs to prevent overheating of the same.

4. A buffing Wheel comprising an annular cloth buff, a circular disk abutting one side surface of said buff, teeth formed integrally with said disk and extending through said buff, an annular ring abutting the opposing side surface of said buff and having peripheral apertures formed therein to receive said teeth, said ring having portions immediately contiguous to and radially inward from each of said apertures locally deformed from the plane of the ring away from said bufi and said teeth being deformed radially into extended surface engagement with the deformed portions of said ring to secure said disk and ring to said bufi, said teeth and said deformed portions of said ring extending axially beyond said ring to space said wheel from an adjacent wheel of a buffing assembly to form radial cooling air channels, and air directing fins struck from said disk and extending axially of said wheel at an acute angle thereto to underlie said bufi, said vanes serving to direct air radially outwardly through channels defined by said teeth and said deformed portions of said ring spacing said wheel from an adjacent wheel into contact with said buff to cool the same and to prevent overheating thereof.

5. A bufilng wheel comprising an annular cloth buif, a circular disk having portions struck therefrom along radially extending lines to provide air directing vanes lying at acute angles to the plane of the disk and air receiving openings through the disk, a ring and elements passing through said cloth buff to clamp the same between said disk and said ring outwardly of said air directing vanes and providing axially extending protuberances spacing said wheel from an adjacent wheel to provide spaces for the outward passage of air deflected by said vanes.

JOHN J. LAWLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Number Name Date 1,106,833 Painter Aug. 11, 1914 1,573,961 Zucker Feb. 23, 1926 1,920,667 Radinse Aug. 1, 1933 1,922,108 Myers et a1. Aug. 15, 1933 2,094,650 Hall Oct. 5, 1937 2,102,867 White Dec. 21, 1937 2,106,610 Kreilick et al Jan. 25, 1938 2,136,747 Levoy Nov. 15, 1938 2,140,208 Murray H Dec. 13, 1938 2,182,952 Todd et a1 Dec. 12, 1939 2,187,602 Hague Jan. 16, 1940 2,198,282 Hall Apr. 23, 1940 2,291,524 Best et al July 28, 1942 2,479,941 Kummer Aug. 23, 1949 

